Mining Meets Space: Revolutionizing Industry Innovation with Cross … – AZoMining

Tapping into the abundance of resources in space opens up new avenues for exploration and progress. In the mining industry, a subtle transformation is currently underway, fueled by insights and advancements gained from space exploration. This transformation seeks to improve productivity, reduce emissions, and create more favorable working conditions for laborers and communities.

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Space exploration is currently experiencing a rapid transformation, marked by a surge in groundbreaking discoveries. This dynamic shift is introducing an exciting new paradigm for space endeavors, characterized by the emergence of new players, evolving trends, promising opportunities, and accompanying challenges. These developments are driven by the convergence of advanced technologies, central to the ongoing and expansive Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR).

Advancements in materials science and the advent of 3D printing have led to significant cost reductions in space launches, causing profound impacts across the entire space industry. Brookings has stated that the United States of America is the leading investor in both public space (around $54.6 Billion) and private-type space exploration.

The contemporary space race is primarily centered on commercial space ventures, and its economic importance has surged dramatically. In the 15 years from 2005 to 2020, there had been an increase of over 250 billion dollars in the valuation of the space industry.

In the last decade, companies such as Space-X, Blue Origin, and Virgin have been investing in space research and technologies.

Recent developments have led to progress in space exploration and mining that extend from space-to-Earth missions to space-to-space operations. There has been a massive reduction in launch costs of space vehicles due to better fuel and propulsive systems.

This transformative landscape provides fertile ground for cross-industry collaborations, as exemplified by the convergence of the mining sector with space exploration. Moreover, the prospect of space mining, which focuses on extracting precious metals and rare elements, holds the potential to become the next competitive frontier.

The mining of these rare minerals will counter the ever-increasing demand for raw materials on Earth. The space exploration sector and Earth mining owing to the recent revolution in mining capabilities will continue to flourish.

Essential minerals and precious resources are present abundantly in celestial bodies present in space. The mining of these resources from bodies such as asteroids etc. is termed as space mining. This process involves deploying robotic probes with the mission of collecting samples for subsequent transport back to Earth.

The potential advantages of space-based mining are manifold. The traditional mining practices are time-consuming and cause environmental degradation. The space-based mineral resources can be mined with no harmful emissions along with lower costs.

The utilization of satellites is another major positive aspect of this process. Satellites can pinpoint the areas with substantial resources of useful minerals. In this way, geologists can remotely identify the targeted areas and then exhaust the resources rather than using a trial-and-error approach or traditional data-based approach. This has led to a massive boost in the efficiency of the mining process.

Moreover, space exploration offers an opportunity to develop new technologies specifically designed for the mining industry. For instance, robotic spacecraft can be employed to explore hazardous terrains, such as the deep sea or extreme climates, which present significant challenges for human access. This pioneering approach paves the way for innovative solutions in mining that were previously beyond reach.

Space exploration has the potential to provide valuable insights into the composition of minerals and various resources. By analyzing samples collected during space missions, scientists can deepen their understanding of the unique properties associated with different minerals. This enhanced knowledge can then be utilized to improve the efficiency of mining operations, leading to advancements in mineral extraction techniques.

As part of the Australian Space Agency's Moon to Mars initiative, Australian companies are actively involved in developing technologies and services to support NASA in its ambitious goals. In a significant collaboration, NASA has entrusted Australia, through the Australian Space Agency, with the responsibility of providing a Lunar Foundation Services Rover for an upcoming mission called "Trailblazer."

The Trailblazer mission involves remotely operating the rover, with its primary objective being the collection of lunar soil and its subsequent delivery to NASA's dedicated processing facility on the Moon for the extraction of essential oxygen. This marks a critical step toward establishing a sustainable human presence on both the Moon and Mars.

The AROSE consortium has emerged as one of the two accomplished teams selected to participate in Stage 1 of the prestigious Trailblazer mission, a flagship endeavor. During Trailblazer Stage 1, these successful applicants are actively involved in developing foundational service rover solutions, advancing through the initial mission phases until they reach the crucial Preliminary Design Review stage.

Following this, Trailblazer Stage 2 will witness the selection of a single successful applicant, chosen from among the participants in Trailblazer Stage 1, to further develop their foundational service rover for launch and subsequent lunar operations. This marks a significant progression in this monumental mission.

As the need for automation and sensing continues to grow, the use of AI and data analytics techniques, especially in rapidly analyzing geological and physical characteristics of rock within the mining sector, has experienced exponential growth. As data streams become more complex and the need for quick decision-making intensifies, the demand for advanced AI methodologies is expected to soar.

At the same time, the space industry faces an even more compelling need for real-time management and interpretation of intricate data to support mission-critical decisions. In this context, there are clear opportunities for collaborative exploration and cooperation, leveraging the expertise developed in both fields to mutual advantage.

The mining industry embraces adopting new technologies and operational approaches to achieve long-term advantages. Automation is a key emphasis, especially in implementing instrumentation and monitoring systems for various aspects like shafts, underground tunneling, and storage facilities. These automated systems offer crucial data about mine conditions, integrate enhanced safety measures, and offer early warning solutions.

However, challenges remain, particularly in the domain of navigation and positioning within mining tunnels. The inherent instability arises when external reference points are widely spaced, leading to a notable margin of error within the internal network.

Researchers have recently published a paper in Minerals presenting a simulation of an innovative analytical and numerical solution aimed at improving positioning accuracy in mining operations while simultaneously reducing measurement time. The study, conducted using actual tunnel dimensions, explores various configurations of control networks. Statistical analysis carried out on simulated environments and virtual measurements, achieved through the combination of various instrumentation methods, confirms the achievement of centimeter-level positioning precision.

The novel approach to designing a mining control network centers on the use of fixed-length bars, resulting in shorter measurement sessions while maintaining consistent accuracy across the network. The concept is rigorously evaluated across 27 simulated network configurations. The results obtained, along with the accompanying statistical analysis, support the feasibility of achieving reliable centimeter-level accuracy within the network.

Furthermore, this pioneering approach has the potential to be extended to space mining, a growing field focused on the extraction of rare-earth elements (REEs), offering promising prospects for the space resource exploration industry.

The mining industry on Earth and space exploration can shape the future of human civilization. The techniques developed for a particular industry can lead to improvements in the other with just minor adjustments. Latest inventions, such as autonomous vehicles, are utilized for both Mars exploration and used extensively in mining operations all over the world. The collaboration of these industries and environmental benefits will lead to cost savings and a significant reduction in operational time.

Continue Reading: Mining on the Moon: The NASA Space Robotics Challenge

AROSE, 2023. Moon to Mars. [Online] Available at: https://www.arose.org.au/moon-to-mars/%5BAccessed 21 September 2023].

Frckiewicz, M., 2023. The impact of space exploration on our understanding of the potential for space-based mining of precious metals and minerals. [Online] Available at: https://ts2.space/en/the-impact-of-space-exploration-on-our-understanding-of-the-potential-for-space-based-mining-of-precious-metals-and-minerals/%5BAccessed 20 September 2023].

Gleeson, D., 2023. Mining and space sectors collaborate to solve the biggest challenges. [Online] Available at: https://im-mining.com/2023/09/11/mining-and-space-sectors-collaborate-to-solve-the-biggest-challenges/%5BAccessed 19 September 2023].

Stupar et. al. (2022). Analytical and Numerical Solution for Better Positioning in Mines with Potential Extending Application in Space Mining.Minerals. 12(5):640. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/min12050640

Signe, L. & Dooley, H., 2023. How space exploration is fueling the Fourth Industrial Revolution. [Online] Available at: https://www.brookings.edu/articles/how-space-exploration-is-fueling-the-fourth-industrial-revolution/%5BAccessed 19 September 2023].

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Mining Meets Space: Revolutionizing Industry Innovation with Cross ... - AZoMining